For questions about all city services or to report a problem, you may call our main phone number, 630-454-2000. During normal business hours (8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday), our receptionist will answer your call and direct it to the appropriate department. To report a power outage, water main break, or other issue that requires urgent attention outside of normal business hours or on a holiday, you may call the Police Department non-emergency number at 630-454-2500.

In general, the city owns and maintains the trees in the parkway. Trees are inspected and pruned when necessary during the winter months. We ask that residents help out by watering the trees when they are new or during drought conditions. If there is a problem with a tree in the parkway, please call the Street Division at 630-454-2400.

The city has a Parkway Tree Program that allows residents to request the planting of new trees in the parkway in front of their residence. The city offers several different varieties of trees each year, and the cost of the tree is split 50/50 between the city and the homeowner.

If you would like to plant a tree on your own in the parkway, or if you need to remove a tree in the parkway, you will need a permit from the city. Tree Planting/Removal Permit

The city uses an outside contractor to collect residential brush. A grapple loader will be used to pick the brush off the parkway. Brush should be out by the curb (but not in the street) by 6 a.m. on the Monday of the week you are scheduled.

During the snow season, the Street Department strives to ensure that all roads in the city are as safe as possible for motorists. Of course, our efforts to keep the streets clear of ice and snow can be limited by the intensity of snowfall or cold conditions.

Once the snow accumulation reaches 2 inches (2"), there is no parking on any city street until the storm has stopped and the snow has been fully cleared from that street. When snow is forecast, please help us clean all of the streets faster by complying with this ordinance and making room for our snow removal equipment.

Up to date information about the city's snow removal process is posted to the Street Division services page during the winter season. Street Division

Hydrants are flushed twice a year, in the Spring and Fall. Signs will be posted in your neighborhood during the week that flushing is being done. Residents are reminded to check their water prior to washing any clothes. Be prepared for rusty or discolored water during the week of your scheduled flushing. We regret any inconvenience that discolored water may cause our customers while this work is in progress. If you experience rusty water while laundering, we have a product called “Red-B-Gone” that will help remove the rust from clothes. A free bottle may be picked up at the Utility Billing Department at City Hall or at the Public Works building at 200 N. Raddant Road.

Yes, a Water Conservation Ordinance is in effect year-round. Batavia follows the "odd/even" system; residents with odd-numbered house addresses may water on odd-numbered days, and similarly, even-numbered addresses may water on even-numbered days. Watering may be done between 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on those days. For more information, see the Water Conservation page.

If you have a permanently-installed yard sprinkling system, it must be equipped with a backflow valve to prevent contamination of the city water system. Your system must be registered with the city, and the backflow valve must be inspected annually. Contact the Water Department at 630-454-2450 for more information.

You may apply for a sod / seed permit at any time for watering newly-installed seed or sod. Contact the Water Department at 630-454-2450 to apply. Water Conservation

No, the city does not require pet owners to license or register their pets. The city code does require that dog owners keep the dogs on a leash whenever they are on public property (including streets and sidewalks).

Rates are contained in the City Code and are set by Ordinance. Section 8-1A-5 has the electric rates, Section 8-2-10 has the water rates and Section 8-3-12 has the sewer rates. Commercial Utility Rates

Rates are contained in the City Code and are set by Ordinance. Section 8-1A-5 has the electric rates, Section 8-2-10 has the water rates and Section 8-3-12 has the sewer rates. Residential Utility Rates

1. Payment by Direct Debit Service: The city offers a direct debit service, whereby the amount of your bill can be paid directly from your checking account on the due date. You continue to receive a monthly statement with this program.

2. Payment by Credit Card: You may pay your utility bill using credit cards or an eCheck (one-time withdrawal from checking or savings). There is a fee for using this payment method. To pay your bill, you'll need the account number and service address. Utility Billing Payment Page

Yes you can view your current bill online as well as the prior 12 months of bills. You can sign up to be notified when your new bill is posted. You can also sign up for paperless billing if you prefer to just view your bills online. Utility Billing Payment Page

Some of the ways code violations can be discovered is through routine inspections and observations by city staff as they patrol the community and do their jobs, as a consequence of an action (for example, an application for building permit or a request for zoning action) or in response to a complaint by an individual.

If you would like to report a possible code violation, you can do it in person, by phone or by email. Please be prepared with specific information, such as the address of the property, detailed description of the situation, and the length of time you have observed the situation. You do not have to identify yourself, but having your name will assist us with follow-up and ensure we have all the information we need to resolve the situation. We do make it policy not to reveal complainant information.

Contact information can be found on the Code Compliance page. Code Compliance

The Code Compliance Officer responds to possible violations according to the impact of the violation on the community. Situations that appear to pose a risk to health and safety are given top priority; others are pursued in the order in which they are received.

For all types of code complainants, the first step in the follow up procedure is personal contact by the Code Compliance Officer to see if the violation exists and to request compliance. If the individual responsible for the situation is not available or appears unwilling to voluntarily correct the violation in a timely manner, a notice of violation may be issued, which may require an appearance at Administrative Adjudication or at Kane County Court. Code Compliance

In many cases, the individual responsible for the code violation is given the opportunity to voluntarily correct the situation and comply without penalty. If correction is not made, the individual may be subjected to fines and other penalties. In every case, the City tries to work with the individual to achieve compliance.

For any questions that you may have about code compliance or possible code violations, feel free to call the Code Compliance Officer. Code Compliance Officer

The Engineering Division will inspect properties to determine whether drainage is occurring in the best manner for a lot, within city ordinance. If it is determined there are problems with a lots drainage, the division will be able to assist property owners in determining the best solution for their property.

Erosion occurs when water or wind action moves soil. Erosion control methods attempt to limit this process. In order to minimize erosion, developers must use best management practices to limit soil movement. Examples of this include silt fences and erosion control blankets around a project site. All projects submitted for final engineering review are also examined by the Kane-Dupage Soil Conservation District (KDSCD) to insure sufficient erosion control methods are being used.

KDSCD and the Engineering Department inspect sites to assure these practices are well managed during construction. All of these efforts are required to protect waterways in Kane County from excessive silt.

Items like furniture or mattresses may be placed at the curb on service day with one refuse sticker. Construction debris should be contained in bags or bundles less than 50 pounds, no more than 4 feet in length, and no more than 2 feet in diameter with one refuse/yard waste sticker per bag or bundle. You may contact Advanced Disposal to notify them you have large items for pickup but it is not required.

No, but any excess recyclables beyond the confines of the provided cart must be placed in a resident-owned container designated for recycling and weigh no more than 50 pounds. Residents who consistently generate recyclables in excess of their cart capacity may be asked to either get a larger cart or an additional cart.

Items such as refrigerators (doors removed), hot water heaters, and dishwashers may be disposed of by calling Advanced Disposal at 630-587-8282 at least 1 day prior to service. Each appliance requires one refuse/yard waste sticker.

Empty and clean paint cans that contained latex paint can be put in your recycling bin. If paint remains, it must be in a solidified form, just add kitty litter or oil dry to absorb the paint and put in the trash. Do not place cans of paint in liquid form in regular trash or recycling, as the cans will contaminate the recycling or refuse and leak paint on the street. Latex paint is also accepted for a fee at certain Kane County recycling events

Oil-based paint can be disposed of at the City of Naperville Household Hazardous Waste drop off site located at 156 Fort Hill Drive in Naperville (just east of Route 59), on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This facility is open and available to all residents of Illinois. Business waste is not accepted. Latex paint recycling at Kane County events

Packing peanuts cannot be recycled and should be placed in your regular trash. Clean Styrofoam only (foam #6 PS) may be dropped off anytime at Dart Container, 310 Evergreen Drive in North Aurora. Look for their outside collection bin. Packing peanuts are not accepted.

Household batteries (AAA, AA, C, D, 6-volt, 9-volt, and nickel-cadmium rechargeable) may be dropped off for recycling Monday - Friday (excluding holidays) from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Batavia Public Works Facility. Learn more about curbside recycling online. Hearing aid, watch, and car batteries are not accepted at Public Works.

An easement is a legal provision tied to a property that modifies the rights of the owner. Conventionally, most properties have a utility easement. These easements allow the city or a utility company to access the property for a specific purpose, such as repairing a power line. Other types of easements exist within the city; these include drainage and conservation easements.

Easements are marked on your property's plat of survey. Plats of survey are given to the property owner, Lending Institution and Title Company.

The right of way is the area of land that is maintained specifically for public use to travel across. Typically, the right of way includes the street, parkway and sidewalk. Usually it is of a width of 66 feet. Within a residential area, the right of way typically ends 1 foot behind the sidewalk.

Mortgage lenders often hire outside technical consultants to complete the floodplain determination portion of a mortgage or refinancing loan. The lender, as well as their consultant is required by law to use only the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) as the source of information for the determination. View more about flood insurance online.

The 100-year floodplain, or base floodplain is that area adjacent to rivers, streams and lakes that has been determined to have a 1% statistical chance of being flooded in any given year. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) completes hydrologic and hydraulic studies of watercourses and water bodies to determine flood elevations relative to local topography. FEMA uses the term Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for these investigations. An individual FIS is completed for each municipality or county. The floodplain maps, called Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) are the companion documents to the FIS.

Consult the permit page for instances when engineering permits or forms are required. Most homeowner projects require only a building permit. However, some projects, such as work within the right of way, require special permits. Development of parcels often will require additional permits from county and state agencies.

The Community Development Department enforces all building, zoning and property maintenance codes of the city. The department reviews plans for consistency with the City Code, including the Subdivision Regulations, issues building permits and reviews proposed development. The department works with applicants, the Historic Preservation and Plan Commissions, Zoning Board of Appeals, and City Council to insure that plans under review meet the City Code and the goals of the Comprehensive Plan.

This is the process of locating, grouping, and controlling land uses and development to achieve the stated purposes of the Zoning Code. These purposes include helping to insure public health and safety, quality of life, and specifically, protection of land, air, and water quality and value.

The Batavia Zoning Map depicts each zoning district within the city. Each district is defined and regulated under Title 10 of the City Code, entitled Zoning Code. Each district has a list of permitted and conditional use along with other regulations regarding the built form. Copies of the Zoning Code may be reviewed at the Community Development Office or on the City's website. Batavia Zoning Map

This refers to whether the use of or built conditions on your property comply with all zoning requirements. If legally established uses or conditions are no longer allowed, they may continue without alteration as a non-conforming use. The Zoning Code, Chapter 4.6 has specific allowances for continuation (or elimination if necessary) of non-conforming uses when site improvements are altered or uses are interrupted. Please refer to the Zoning Code in the Batavia City Code for more information or call our office. Chapter 4.6 (PDF)

Yes, you will need a permit to display a temporary sign banner in Batavia. Businesses may obtain a temporary sign permit from the Community Development Department by completing a Building Permit application. Regulations regarding Temporary Signs are specific to each Zoning District, under Chapter 4.4 of the Zoning Code. Please call the Community Development Department at 630-454-2700 to inquire about the fee and necessary paperwork.

Annexation is a legislative act of the City Council, to bring property into the city limits. Properties that are annexed to the city will pay city property taxes, but will also receive city services such as police and fire protection, street maintenance, and electric, water, and sewer service. Properties must be contiguous to the Batavia City limits to annex. Properties outside the city limits may enter into a pre-annexation agreement that requires them to annex when the city limits adjoins their property.

The City Zoning Map indicates the current city limits. Properties that are not in the City limits do not show a zoning designation. Any property outside of the city limits is under the jurisdiction of Kane County. A Batavia mailing address does not necessarily mean your property is incorporated. Most fire district addressed properties are unincorporated. City Zoning Maps

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Districts are economic development tools that take advantage of increases in property value. TIFs are designed to promote redevelopment of struggling areas. When an area is experiencing declining property values, and the resulting drop in property tax revenue, they may institute a TIF. The TIF freezes the amount of tax revenue each taxing body (School District, Park District, etc) receives to that of the starting year of the TIF. The city will then make significant improvements in the TIF area. This could include street, utility, and streetscape repairs as well as land assembly for redevelopment. This is usually financed through bonds.

The improvements raise the property values, and therefore the property tax revenue, in the district. The taxing bodies however, still only receive the portion that was their share when the TIF began. The rest of the income is used to pay off the bonds and make other improvements in the district. TIF Districts are allowed to run for 23 years. After they run their course, the taxing bodies return to receiving their full share of the tax revenue. TIF Districts

The City of Batavia has 2 active TIF districts that generally cover the downtown area. A map of these districts is available on the city's maps webpage. TIF Districts will also appear on your property tax bill. If you would like additional information about the TIF districts contact the Community Development Department at 630-454-2700. City Maps

You may call the Police Department at 630-454-2500 and gain approval to park on the street overnight. A vehicle plate number and a valid Batavia location (address or intersection) is required. Please bear in mind that if there are unpaid ordinance violations associated with the vehicle or home address location, overnight parking cannot be granted.

By local ordinance (Ord. 83-37, 7-18-1983), vehicles cannot park on the street between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. This is a City-wide ordinance. Signs are posted randomly throughout the City. Should you need to park on the street overnight, please contact the Police Department at 630-454-2500. Typical reasons for overnight parking include: driveway construction, overnight guests, medial related reasons, etc. There is a limit to how often and how long you may receive overnight parking approval so be sure to include your reason for parking on the street overnight.

Accident Reports - If you are involved party in an accident report, you may come to the Police Department and purchase the accident report for $5.00 (cash or check). Accident reports can also be purchased at buycrash.com.

General Police Reports - You may fill out a Freedom of Information (FOIA) request that specifies the information for which you are seeking. Freedom of Information provides the Police Department five business days for response.

Ordinance violation tickets may be paid via mail or in-person only. Checks should be made payable to the City of Batavia, cash is also accepted. Be mindful that ordinance ticket fines increase after 10 days from the issue date.

Traffic tickets are paid through the Kane County Clerk's Office in-person, by mail, or online via the circuit clerk's website. Be sure to carefully read the instructions provided with the traffic ticket. Information such as methods of payment, processes for pleading guilty or not guilty, and instructions for requesting court supervision are listed. Kane County Circuit Clerk's Office

You may look up your traffic ticket online at the Kane County Clerk's Office website. Please bear in mind that it may take 1-2 week for the ticket information to be available online. Look Up Traffic Ticket

Yes. You must submit a completed application 7 to 10 days before the date of the event in order to be reviewed and processed by all City Departments involved. If you do not submit your application within this time frame, you risk having your permit denied. This permit application is available on line or in person. Questions relating to your Block Party may be directed to Deputy Chief Glenn Autenrieth at 630/454-2500. Get Your Block Party Permit Application Here

Yes, however, fingerprinting is exclusive to residents who live within the corporate city limits of Batavia or who work in Batavia. Fingerprinting is done by appointment only. You may call 630-454-2500 or visit the Police Department in person to make an appointment. There is a $35.00 fingerprint fee. This fee may be paid by Cash of Check only. Please note that the fingerprint machine is located in the booking area of the Police Department. Should an arrest be made at the time of your appointment and a subject be detained, you will be notified that your appointment is canceled and will be rescheduled accordingly.

Should you inquire on the status of your case, please obtain the officer or investigator's name and/or badge number handling your case and contact the Department at 630/454-2500. If you are unsure who is handling your case, please contact the Police Department with your case report number and/or your name and date of birth. We will redirect you accordingly.

Noise issues should be directed to the Police Department. In order to file a noise complaint, an officer must be notified at the time of the disturbance. Batavia has automotive regulations against vehicles causing excessive noise, as well as regulations against the operation of loud machinery during certain hours.

- Outdoor amplification of sound is prohibited from 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11:30 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday. (4-4-5)

- Animals causing a high and/or prolonged level of noise can be ruled as a disturbance. Any person in possession of such an animal can be charged with disturbing the peace. (5-4B-5).

Persons under the age of 17 years must be home by 11:00 p.m. Sunday thru Thursday and 12:00 midnight on Friday and Saturday. The City of Batavia's curfew ordinance is the same as that of the State of Illinois. Please note that there is a new State curfew for teen drivers ages 16 & 17, which became effective January 1, 2008. A nighttime driving restriction is in place Sunday thru Thursday from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information on the State Driving Curfew, visit the Illinois Secretary of State website. Illinois Secretary of State

A big reason to do regular home maintenance is to maintain the value of the property. A well maintained home usually sells more readily and usually brings a higher price. A well-maintained house is more comfortable. If you partake in regular care, it will minimize unexpected repair work and expense, so this keeps regular small repair costs from becoming larger. A lender's agreement usually requires the owner to maintain the property to protect the lender's financial interest.

Home maintenance starts outside with cleaning roof and gutters. Also, cleaning or painting outside wall surfaces is considered maintenance. Heading inside, cleaning floors and walls, vacuuming carpet and keeping sink and shower drains running freely are all great examples of home maintenance.

Exterior home repair is important because it's the first thing a person will see, so replacing broken glass in windows or doors, replacing warped or worn shingles, and repairing a cracked or heaved sidewalk or driveway is the start. On the inside you'll want to replace worn out faucets, repair a broken stair rail, etc.

Maintenance and repairs should be done as soon as the need appears. This sooner-the-better practice helps prevent further damage and keeps repair costs down. At least once every 6 months, inspect your house and yard thoroughly to identify items needing work.

The homeowner who does his or her own maintenance and repairs saves money. If you are not able to do the work, hire a qualified, experienced repair person. Ask friends for personal recommendations to find a reputable repair person. Ask for written estimates, and do not pay in advance for maintenance or repair services.

There are several ways that city motor construction projects are funded. Primarily, local road construction projects, are funded through Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds. The state collects gasoline taxes and distributes them yearly to cities proportionally to their population. Some projects also receive federal funds or grants. For example, Federal Aid Urban Funds (FAU) contributed to Wilson Street and Batavia Avenue repairs. Some repairs downtown are financed through local programs, such as Tax Increment Financing.

Traffic signals and signs cannot be arbitrarily utilized. In fact, studies have found that the overuse of stop signs actually increase instances of speeding within neighborhoods. In order for a street to have sign installed, it must meet warrants. These warrants are written federal safety requirements. A traffic study must be conducted to verify the need. Primarily, the police department is in charge of requesting studies. In turn, the Engineering Department carries out the actual traffic study.

There are several sources for maps of Batavia. A citywide zoning map is available online. The official zoning map of Batavia, which has all addresses and streets within the city can be purchased for $15 at the Community Development Office. Smaller street maps are also available from the department and the Batavia Chamber of Commerce. Zoning Map

When medications are flushed down the toilet or thrown down the drain, they can end up in our water supply. The long-term effects of these pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter products are currently not fully understood, however, we do know that having pharmaceuticals in the water supply can affect the local environment, including aquatic life.

When medication is not disposed of properly, it can end up in our lakes, rivers, streams, and ground water. Pharmaceuticals are often discarded by throwing them down a drain, toilet, or carelessly into the trash. When disposed of this way, over time, these medications can find their way into the ground water supply, runoff into lakes, rivers and streams, and, in rare occasions, top soil.

Medication that is not disposed of properly can harm humans and wildlife, especially fish and amphibians. Medications that a thrown in the trash may be easy for kids to get into. Thousands of children every year are treated for unintentional ingestion of pharmaceuticals. Pharmaceuticals in the water have been shown to adversely affect wildlife. Trace amounts have been found in some samples of finished drinking water, but the Illinois Department of Public Health and the U.S. EPA do notbelieve it to endanger public health.

Medication that is carelessly thrown in the trash is an easy target for kids. It is also a target for other household members, pets, and even burglars. Aside from these risks, medication that is thrown in a trash bag will eventually end up sitting in a landfill, where it may leach or dissolve indirectly into the ground water.

If you are a resident living within the corporate city limits of Batavia, you may bring your prescription and over-the-counter medications to: Batavia Police Department100 N Island AvenueBatavia, IL

Please be prepared to show proof of residency (i.e. driver’s license, utility bill, etc.) The Batavia Police Department is open 24/7 year round. Medications from non-residents, hospitals, continuing care facilities, clinics, doctor offices, or any other businesses which distribute medications are not eligible to participate.

The Unwanted Medication Disposal Program is a service provided to the citizens of the City of Batavia. As such, there are administrative costs involved which preclude the City of Batavia from providing this service on a larger scale. The residency requirement makes the program more manageable.

If there is not a designated site near you, many towns and counties hold a yearly event just for this purpose. Check with your local area to see if there is an annual drug disposal event. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office also accepts medication from anyone. You may also contact Kane County for a listing of disposal sites. Kane County Safe Medicine Disposal

You may put empty inhalers in your regular recycling bins, since they are made of plastic and aluminum. Inhalers that are not empty may have to wait for the yearly county disposal event. You may also contact Kane County for alternative disposal sites. Kane County Safe Medicine Disposal

There are currently not any options for drop-off disposal of syringes in Kane County. There are actually very few nationally and the industry is working towards future opportunities in this area. For now, you can subscribe to one of the following mail-in programs Sharps Disposal Programs

The medications are delivered to a plant, where they will be incinerated. Incineration is environmentally safer than other disposal methods. The process is highly regulated by the EPA. It is done in a way that minimizes contamination of air particles.

The City of Batavia owns and operates the Treatment Facility and the community’s collection system. At present, the wastewater facility employs 1 secretary, 1 lab technician, 5 certified operators and 1 superintendent. The staff receives continual training to keep current with new technologies and improved operating procedures. The City of Batavia currently has 18 sewage pump stations located throughout the community.

The Wastewater Treatment Staff is responsible for the operation and maintenance of these facilities. The Water/Sewer Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of approximately 100 miles of underground sanitary sewer piping throughout the community.

The City of Batavia’s Wastewater Treatment Facility is highly regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. These agencies perform random testing of the facilities effluent. The USEPA, through the IEPA, issues a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit. Included in the NPDES Permit are specific guidelines concerning the testing of the facilities effluent.

The City of Batavia performs lab analysis 5 days a week, which is significantly more frequent than the NPDES Permit requires. Our facility averages 2 milligrams per liter BOD and 4 milligrams per liter suspended solids in its effluent or 10% and 20% respectively, of the allowable maximum limits under the city’s NPDES Permit.

A typical neighborhood wastewater pumping station, which is owned and operated by the City of Batavia, is designed to pump around 150,000 gallons per day. An illegal sump pump (one that is connected to the sanitary system) could be adding up to 40 gallons per minute of flow. A simple calculation (40 gallons per minute x 1440 minutes in a day) tells us that it would only take 3 of these illegally connected sump pumps to use up the entire pump station design capacity.

Do not run any more water or flush a toilet. Call the City of Batavia Water/Sewer Department at 630-0454-2450. They can come out and give you advice as to what the problem might be and how it may be resolved.

The two most common causes of sewer backups are roots in the sewer line and grease blockages. Know where you sewer line is located. Avoid planting trees and shrubs near the sewer line. Roots can creep into the sewer pipe and over time cause a blockage. If trees or shrubs have caused problems in the past, remove them, once roots have breached your sewer line, there is a good chance that the roots will grow back.

Typically, the best way to clear a blockage is to call a professional sewer cleaning service. They will cut the roots from your sewer pipe. Try to avoid spending money on miracle root killers. Not only are you using a potentially hazardous chemical, but roots typically enter through the top section of the pipe whereas chemicals sit on the bottom and seldom come in contact with the roots.

Stop using the kitchen sink and garbage disposal for grease or food scraps. Vegetables, meat scraps, butter, cooking oils, and many other foods, deposit grease and solids that can build up in pipes, and eventually, create a blockage in your sewer line. Instead of putting food waste into a garbage disposal, scrape food waste from plates and pans into the garbage. Let melted oils used for cooking; solidify in a container (empty juice cartons or coffee cans work well) on the counter or in the refrigerator before placing them into the garbage.

The most common cause of sewer gas (hydrogen sulfide) odor in basements is due to improperly maintained floor drains. The floor drains in your basement are designed to trap the hydrogen sulfide gases in the sewer and away from your basement.

To remedy the problem you will need to locate all of the floor drains in your basement. Pour at least 1 quart of water in each floor drain on a weekly basis, if the odors do not go away, given adequate ventilation, call the City of Batavia at 630-454-2450.

The regulations are designed to ensure the safety and supply of the city’s water system. Conservation helps maintain water supply levels during dry weather conditions when little rainfall occurs and ensures public safety by meeting fire-fighting requirements.

Lawn sprinkling is permitted from 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. following the odd / even rule. There are no restrictions when watering with a hand-held device. Learn more about conservation online. Water Conservation Regulations

Properties ending in odd numbers may use lawn sprinklers on odd-numbered calendar dates and properties ending in even numbers may use lawn sprinklers on even-numbered calendar dates during the approved times.

The city provides additional sprinkling opportunities for property owners planting new seed or sod in a large area, such as full lots. Small patches should be hand watered. Property owners may use lawn sprinklers for eight hours on the day the sod or seed is placed on the lawn.

For the next 9 days, lawn sprinkling is permitted any time between the hours of 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. On the 11th day, property owners must adhere to the general sprinkling regulations.

There are no restrictions when filling swimming pools that are 50 gallons or less. All properties with swimming pools more than 50 gallons must following the odd / even water restrictions during permitted hours of use.

During high levels of alert, which is a function of dry weather and water levels, citations may become necessary to enforce water conservation in the interest of public health and safety. Regulations are publicized through a variety of communication channels so that all residents may be informed of the need to conserve water.

Recreational use of sprinklers is always allowed. However, the water must be turned off when children are not present. Sprinklers left running without recreational users present are subject to the regular restrictions of the water conservation ordinance.

Sprinkler system malfunctions are treated like any other watering violation. Any customer who uses an automatic sprinkling system must accept responsibility to make sure it is timed correctly. Again, the overriding concern is to protect the public water supply.

Please contact the Community Development Department for a sod permit. Newly laid sod or seed may be watered for 8 hours on the first day. Since new sod requires immediate watering, there is no restriction on when the 8 hours may start and stop. For the next 9 days, watering is allowed every day during the permitted hours of 6 a.m. - 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

After the initial 10-day period, new sod is subject to the same restrictions as all other lawns. This exemption only applies to new lawns. Adding seed to existing grass does not qualify.

The city’s water supply is a combination of deep and shallow well water. The deep wells are drilled into the Ironton/Galesville Aquifer and the shallow wells are drilled into the St. Charles Aquifer. The city’s wells vary in depth from 150 feet - 1,500 feet.

Yes, Batavia’s water meet all of the federal and state EPA drinking water standards. Batavia has spent almost $18 million to gain compliance with all federal and state drinking water standards. Batavia has successfully passed all regulated testing since 2007.

Cubic feet measures volume, so 100 cubic feet (CF) of water is equal to 748 gallons. One CF equals 7.48 gallons. Some towns bill per 1,000 gallons, but Batavia’s meters have always been read in cubic feet.

Batavia employs meter readers to walk the neighborhoods each month and gather water meter and electric meter readings. The meter readers carry electronic reading devices that are automatically downloaded with the addresses. All meter readings are automatically downloaded into the city’s billing software program.

Batavia has researched the possibility of using other electronic means to gather the readings, such as radio signals, but has found that manually reading the devices is still the most economical way of gathering the data at this time.

A whole house water filtration system is not necessary. Batavia’s water meets or exceeds all state and federal EPA drinking water guidelines. A softener would improve the water quality by eliminating the hardness.

Most likely it is the chlorine we are required to add as a disinfectant. Occasionally the city receives calls that the water smells like sulfur or rotten eggs. This is caused by the anode rod in the water heater. If at any time the water has an unusual odor it is probably best to call us. It is well known that people’s sense of smell can be one of the best indicators of a problem.

Floor and sink drains usually have water filling the bottom of the drain trap which acts as a barrier between the air in the sewer line and the air in your home. When a drain trap becomes dry, sewer odors can enter into the residence. If you experience sewer odors in your home check your basement or utility room floor drain. Add a gallon or 2 of water if you suspect it is dry.

Low water pressure can be caused by several factors. Someone has closed, or partially closed the main water valve where the water enters the building. The city has partially, or totally shut down the water main for a major water main break or leak repair. The water softener is malfunctioning and causing a reduction in water flow. Most softeners are equipped with a manual bypass valve. To check your softener, bypass it manually and re-check your pressure. If the pressure improves, the softener may be the problem. There is a break or leak on the water service line to your residence.

Lead in drinking water is a serious matter, especially for infants and small children. There is no lead in Batavia’s drinking water; however lead can enter your water through home plumbing systems. Lead can leach into your water by contacting lead solder used to join pipes and though faucets that may have high lead content.

It is a State of Illinois Plumbing Code requirement to have the back flow prevention devices tested on an annual basis. This includes devises on lawn irrigation systems, fire sprinkler systems and any other plumbing hazard employing a back flow device.